Sir, The contribution last week on Trident and independence once again muddied the waters on the crucial vote that awaits us all.

The nuclear deterrent has been with us for over half a century and its presence in Scotland in that time has not been a major issue with the man on the street. A lthough some would argue having a nuclear deterrent has prevented a third world war no doubt the time has come to debate its future, but this should be outside of the Independence issue. It is simply vote catching emotive nonsense to include this subject when the residents of Scotland should be concentrating on the future of the economy, immigration, employment, currency, defence (non nuclear), tax, NATO, EEC and the list goes on. To vote Yes, simply on Trident, is as worrying as the alleged lack of awareness of Trident by the people on Peebles High Street.

Incidentally, if an independent Scotland wishes to continue with the security benefits from NATO membership kicking the nuclear deterrent out is not the best way to go about it.

Furthermore, whenever the No campaign raises the “No more illegal wars issue” they conveniently overlook the fact that it was a UK Parliament led by Scots that took us into that fiasco!

So, please let us have some balance and debate the issues of the day that will affect us all.

I am, etc.

Derek Lawson West Linton